Author: Felekian Ara

Trend, Azerbaijan
March 26 2010

Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian FMs discusses Nagorno Karabakh conflict

26.03.2010 18:23
Sergey Lavrov highlighted Russian leadership’s determination to
actively contribute to a peaceful political solution to the
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. This was reported by the Russian Foreign
Ministry after the Russian Foreign Minister’s meeting with Azerbaijani
and Armenian Foreign Ministers Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward
Nalbandian, ITAR-TASS reported.

Sergey Lavrov held separate meetings with Elmar Mammadyarov and Edward
Nalbandian March 25-26, Russian Foreign Ministry reported. In addition
to bilateral issues, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was discussed in
the context of its consideration at meetings of the Presidents of
Russia Dmitry Medvedev, Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Armenia Serzh
Sargsyan.

"During discussions with his counterparts, the Russian foreign
minister underlined the commitment of the Russian leadership to, in
line with the efforts of OSCE Minsk Group, actively promote a peaceful
political solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh, an alternative to which
does not exist, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The sides
re-confirmed their commitment to achieving a peaceful solution in
accordance with the Moscow Declaration of Presidents of Azerbaijan,
Armenia and Russia on November 2, 2008."

ARMED ARMENIAN FIRED AT UNARMED ARMENIAN FOR FIRST TIME DURING KOCHARIAN’S DAY: GURGEN YEGHIAZARYAN

Tert.am
14:25 ~U 25.03.10

Robert Kocharian’s statements about returning to politics are a
serious claim that Kocharian aims to become prime minister, said
former Deputy Minister of National Security Gurgen Yeghiazaryan.

"There’s one thing I don’t understand: during Kocharian’s day, for
the first time, blood spilled in the capital, Yerevan; for the first
time an armed Armenian fired at an unarmed Armenian. Is our state
that backward, that they can’t find the murderers?" he said, adding
that a conclusion can be drawn: they are murderous ruling authorities.

According to Yeghiazaryan, there’s March 1st, which is a serious
obstacle to Kocharian returning to office.

YEREVAN PRESS CLUB WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

MARCH 19-25, 2010

HIGHLIGHTS:

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: EASTERN PARTNERSHIP AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH DAY IN GYUMRI

INCIDENT AT "HAYOTS ASHKHAR" DAILY

JUDGMENTS ON THE SUITS OF FOI CENTER RENDERED

"PRESS CLUB" CYCLE: EASTERN PARTNERSHIP AND DEMOCRATIC REFORMS

On March 23, another "Press Club" show went on the air of "Yerkir Media" TV
company. The cycle is produced under Yerevan Press Club project, supported
by the Open Society Institute. The guests of the program host, YPC President
Boris Navasardian were Naira Zohrabian, Chairwoman of parliamentary Standing
Commission on European Integration, Larisa Minasian, Executive Director of
Open Society Institute Assistance Foundation-Armenia, and Gevorg
Ter-Gabrielian, Country Director of Eurasia Partnership Foundation. The
discussion centered on the role of Eastern Partnership EU program in the
implementation of democratic reforms in Armenia.

The next "Press Club" show will be aired on "Yerkir Media" on March 30, at
21.15.

SECOND ANNIVERSARY OF FREEDOM OF SPEECH DAY IN GYUMRI

On March 25, the Freedom of Speech Day was celebrated in "Asparez"
Journalists’ Club of Gyumri. This day is marked in Gyumri for already the
second year. On this occasion "Asparez" gave memorable gifts to a number of
journalists and media: "Lragir.am" online publication (for a cycle of
analytical and publicist articles); "Hetq" online publication (for covering
regional events); "7or.am" Internet portal (for a cycle of political
cartoons); Voskan Sargsian, correspondent of "Qamut" TV company, "Tesankyun"
newspaper and "Hetq" (for active journalistic work); free lance photo
journalist Gagik Shamshian (for prompt and exposing photojournalism);
Armenuhi Vardanian, correspondent of "GALA" TV company (for covering the
public and political events); Tatul Hakobian (for the book "Green and
Black").

The Freedom of Speech Day was found in 2009 to mark the settlement of the
situation with "GALA" TV company of Gyumri: the payment of tax liability by
founder of "GALA", "CHAP" LLC, which almost put the TV company on the edge
of closing down. The funds for paying off the debt were donated by
individuals and organizations, both Armenian and international. The tax
inspections at "CHAP" LLC (and the following lawsuits) started, as soon as,
on October 22, 2007, the "CHAP" owner Vahan Khachatrian announced about the
attempts of various power agencies to exert pressure on "GALA".

Meanwhile, on March 23 "GALA" TV company released a statement, noting that
"as a result of direct pressure of some power agencies, since mid-February
the advertisers avoid of placing their commercials on the air of ‘GALA’".
According to the TV company, for the last month 26 companies removed their
advertisements from "GALA", and currently it only has 3 advertisers.
Likewise, informs "GALA", in 2007 the TV company was deprived of more than
30 advertisers in three days. The TV company stated that it reduces the
price tenfold: from now on "one minute of advertisement will cost a nominal
price of 960 AMD".

INCIDENT AT "HAYOTS ASHKHAR" DAILY

On March 20 at 16.30 Kentron Police Department of Yerevan received an alarm
from "Armenia" Medical Center, informing that Manvel Kirakosian has
addressed to the Center to get medical assistance. Manvel Kirakosian stated
that he was blown on his head with a baton at the editorial office of
"Hayots Ashkhar" daily. The information about the incident was stored on the
RA Police website on March 22. According to the communication of RA Police,
on the same day at 15.00 at "Hayots Ashkhar" office, Manvel Kirakosian got
into a quarrel with Gagik Mkrtchian, Chief Editor of the daily, rolled him
over and started giving blows. When the son of Gagik Mkrtchian, Vahan
Mkrtchian saw this, he stroke Kirakosian on his head with a baton. The case
is under investigation. Gagik Mkrtchian and Manvel Kirakosian are sent to
medical examination, the communication of RA Police noted.

JUDGMENTS ON THE SUITS OF FOI CENTER RENDERED

On March 19 RA Court of Cassation released the judgment on the application
of Freedom of Information Center. The organization appealed the decision of
RA Administrative Court of August 13, 2009 regarding the dismissal of its
suit versus the Administration of Parakar rural community (Armavir region).
As it has been reported, in July 2009 FOI Center addressed the court with
suits on non-provision of information versus Administrations of six rural
communities, "Office on Implementing Programs of Construction and
Investments in Yerevan" state non-commercial organization and their heads
(see details in YPC Weekly Newsletter, July 10-16, 2009). In the suit versus
Parakar Administration FOI Center demanded to hold the inaction of the
Village Elder Samvel Vardanian (who did not answer fully in January 2009 to
the request on land allotment), to impose a fine of 50,000 AMD (about $ 130)
on him, as well as, charge from the rural community the state duty of 12,000
AMD for filling the court.

At the session of March 19 the Court of Cassation secured the claim of the
plaintiff partially. The Court stated that the Elder of Parakar village
could not answer the request fully, as it did not dispose of the required
information for some objective reasons. The Court of Cassation called off
the decision of the Administrative Court and sent the case for
reconsideration by the same jurisdiction.

Earlier, on March 18, the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan secured the suit of FOI Center versus
Labor Socialist Party of Armenia. As it has been reported, in April 2009 FOI
Center made inquiries to seven political unions (registered at the RA
Central Electoral Commission for running in the elections of Yerevan Council
of Elderly of May 31, 2009) requesting the copies of their financial reports
for 2008 and information about sources of charitable contributions exceeding
the hundred-fold of the minimum wage. The Republican Party of Armenia, ARF
"Dashnaktsutiun", "Prosperous Armenia" and the Popular Party gave an
exhaustive reply and in terms defined by the law. "Orinats Yerkir" granted
incomplete information with a delay, while, the Armenian National Congress
party bloc and the Labor Socialist Party of Armenia did not respond to the
inquiry at all. Suits were filed versus this three political unions (see YPC
Weekly Newsletter, September 3-10, 2009). On October 22, 2009 the suit
versus "Orinats Yerkir" was revoked, as the party granted the required
information during the court hearings. On December 22, 2009 the suit versus
Armenian National Congress was also turned down, based on the fact that,
according to RA Civil Procedure Code, only legal entities or individuals can
appear as defendants at court, while the Congress, as a bloc does not match
this requirement.

At the session of March 18 the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and
Nork-Marash communities of Yerevan obliged the Labor Socialist Party of
Armenia to provide with the information inquired by FOI Center in a term of
5 days.

When reprinting or using the information above, reference to the Yerevan
Press Club is required.

You are welcome to send any comment and feedback about the Newsletter to:
[email protected]

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this mailing list, please send a message to: [email protected]

Editor of YPC Newsletter – Elina POGHOSBEKIAN
_____________________________________ _______
Yerevan Press Club
9B, Ghazar Parpetsi str.
0002, Yerevan, Armenia
Tel.: (+ 374 10) 53 00 67; 53 35 41; 53 76 62
Fax: (+374 10) 53 56 61
E-mail: [email protected]
Web Site:

ANTIQUATED TEXTBOOKS SENT OVERSEAS
By Aaron Warn

The Collegian (California State University Fresno)
antiquated-textbooks-sent-overseas/
March 24 2010

Two campus organizations are striving to find a good home for unused
books and textbooks from the Kennel Bookstore.

Ron Durham, director of the Kennel Bookstore, said books that no
longer have any value to the school are donated to one of two campus
organizations. William Rice of the marketing and logistics department
heads one of them. Rice took it upon himself to collect unused books
from the Fresno State campus and ship them internationally.

"Just a few months ago we shipped about 7,000 books to Armenia,"
Rice said.

In all, Rice said he has been able to distribute about 60,000 books
to Armenia.

Armenia is the main recipient of Rice’s donations, but the country
is not the only one. Rice said he tries to focus on countries that
may not have these resources otherwise.

"It isn’t just Armenia though," Rice said. "I’ve also shipped thousands
of other books to places like Ethiopia and Kenya."

Rice, who has been involved in this process for 15 years, is not
only in charge of collecting the books that might be of good use to
other cultures, but is also in charge of finding a way to get them
to these countries. In doing this, he finds different airlines that
are willing to transport the textbooks into their home countries to
be used in schools and libraries.

"I try to go through them and find books that might have value to
specific cultures and ship them out to those specific countries,"
Rice said.

After Rice has sorted through the thousands of books that no longer
have any value to the school, there is still a large amount that
needs to find a home. Books that Rice does not collect are given to
the Golden Key International Honour Society.

>From there the books are shipped to Better World Books, a for-profit
social enterprise that collects used books and sells them online to
raise money for literacy initiatives worldwide.

Eric York, local president of the Golden Key Honour Society, said
his organization did its research and determined that Better World
Books would be the necessary recipient of the donated books.

"They just do such great work with places all over the world," York
said. "It was an easy decision as far as I’m concerned. They do an
amazing job at getting resources to places that really need them."

One of those places is Haiti. In an attempt to overcome its educational
challenges in the aftermath of January’s earthquake, Better World
Books announced on March 2 that they will begin the "Rebuild Haiti"
initiative. This will combine immediate aid with long-term efforts to
fund the restoration and equipment of schools, teacher training and
improvement of the quality of education and literacy in Haiti. Better
World Books has already made an initial donation of $10,000 to help
rebuild Haiti.

"As soon as we heard about the earthquake’s destruction in Haiti,
we knew we could leverage our powerful fundraising machine to help,"
said Better World Books CEO David Murphy. "After Hurricane Katrina,
people donated an enormous number of books which raised over $100,000
for the New Orleans Public Library. We know people want to respond
the same way to the Haiti crisis. We intend to see this initiative
through, as long as it takes."

Fresno State is one of about 1,800 college campuses that Better World
Books has accepted book donations from. In total, they have collected
more than 25 million donated books and raised $7.3 million in funding
for literacy and education.

"It’s just good to see that these unused books are going towards a
good cause and not being wasted just because we can no longer use
them," Durham said.

ARMENIA DENIES CLINTON REMARKS ON ‘HISTORY COMMISSION’ CREATION

Asbarez
enia-denies-clinton-remarks-on-%e2%80%98history-co mmission%e2%80%99-creation/
Mar 23rd, 2010

YEREVAN-Armenia’s foreign ministry Tuesday countered earlier statements
by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who said that the process to
create a historic commission, as envisioned by the Armenia-Turkey
protocols, has already begun.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tigran Balayan said that the creation
of a historic commission cannot happen without the ratification of
the protocols by the parliaments of Turkey and Armenia.

During an interview in Moscow with Vladimir Pozner and in response
to a question on whether President Obama has abandoned his campaign
promise to recognize the Armenian Genocide, Clinton said: "I don’t
think anyone has forgotten, but what has happened that is of great
import is the work going on between Turkey and Armenia. In fact,
I was in Zurich last fall with the foreign ministers of Turkey,
Armenia, Russia, France, other countries to witness the signing of
a set of protocols to normalize relationships between Armenia and
Turkey. And in those protocols, there was an agreement between the
two countries to establish a historical commission that would look
at all of the issues that are part of the past."

"And I think that’s the right way to go, I think, to have the two
countries and the two peoples focusing on this themselves. I have
said many times we cannot change the past we inherit. All we can do
is try to have a better future," added Clinton.

When asked whether the commission exists, Clinton said: "They’re
working to create it," and reaffirmed the creation upon further
inquiry.

"Not until the protocols are ratified will steps envisioning
normalization of relations and opening of the Armenia-Turkey border
be taken," Balayan, the spokesman for Armenia’s foreign ministry,
told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Armenia service.

Balayan added that the Armenian Genocide issue was not a matter
of discussion.

"As has been said on numerous occasions by the country’s president
and foreign minister, the veracity of the Genocide is not a topic of
discussion. Armenia hasn’t discussed it, nor will discuss the veracity
of the Genocide," added Balayan.

RAISING FUNDS FOR SHUSHI: HAYASTAN ALL-ARMENIAN FUND EVENT IN WASHINGTON

Tert.am
13:51 ~U 24.03.10

On March 18, an event called "Our Shushi: Remembering the Past,
Yearning for the Future," sponsored by the Armenian Embassy in
Washington and the East Coast Affiliate of the Hayastan All-Armenian
Fund in the US, took place.

Participating in the event were representatives from Armenian-American
organizations, members of the clergy, numerous Armenian-Americans,
as well as Lincy Foundation Vice Chair and United Armenian Fund
President Harut Sassounian.

Armenia Fund USA Executive Director Irina Lazarian presented the fund’s
activities and programs, which support and invest in humanitarian
programs in the educational, health and agricultural sectors.

A short film was screened on the living conditions and needs of
residents of Shushi, Nagorno-Karabakh, according to a release issued
by the RA Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

TURKISH DEFENSE MINISTER ADDRESSES LETTER TO US MILITARY AND INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES IN CONNECTION WITH ‘ARMENIAN IDEAS’

ArmInfo
2010-03-22 15:47:00

ArmInfo. In connection with adoption of the H.Res 252 by the House
Committee for Foreign Affairs, Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Genul
sent a letter to the biggest military and industrial companies in
the USA and asked them to submit it to the Congress representatives.

Cnnturk.com reported that among those companies was Boeing, Redhont
Company, and United Technology. V. Genul said that the above companies
sent letters to congressmen and the heads of factions highlighting
importance of Turkey. He said he would like further discussions to
be more farseeing and conscious of the importance of the friendship
with Turkey.

To recall, official Ankara threatens the USA with sanctions if the
resolution on the Armenian Genocide is put on vote in the Congress
or if President Obama voices the word Genocide on April 24. Turkish
media reported that sanctions against Washington imply freezing of
negotiations on supply of military aircrafts F- 35 and 14 helicopters
CH-47 in the amount of nearly 1.4 billion US dollars to Turkey.

EDUCATION IS A KEY TO SUCCESS – IF YOU KNOW WHAT’S IT FOR
Aram Gareginyan

ArmInfo
22.03.2010

Interview

ArmInfo . Interview with Dr. Bert Wolfs, director of SBS Swiss
Business School

In October 2009, SBS Swiss Business School became the first in
Armenia to start an MBA program. Director of SBS shares his views
on the prospects of Armenian economy and the ways to apply business
theory in local conditions.

Have you witnessed enough interest towards MBA courses in Armenia?

We’ve been able to recruit the first group of MBA students in Armenia.

Today we live in a globalized world, and countries no more live
on their own. We did a market research, which revealed changes
in the Armenian economy, particularly the tendency to acquire
more professional skills. People want to know more about the best
practices of international businesses. In our curriculum, instructed
by a combined local and international faculty, we try to provide the
best practices.

Why did you choose particularly marketing discipline for Armenia?

We’ve worked with the rector of RAU, Mr. Armen Darbinyan, who is
respected both in Armenia and outside. Armenia is a small market, but
located on the crossroads of Europe and Asia. It’s a market of a great
potential, because Armenia has got very good native products – water,
juices and fruit, and I think local entrepreneurs are capable to do
more business internationally, therefore we think it’s a good way to
train managers locally. We don’t want managers like to go for a year
to Switzerland and practice their studies in a foreign economy. The
advantage of this program is that theoretical concepts are immediately
applied in practice, so you can see how and why they work.

How do you find the level of Armenian students?

I’m very pleased with their professional skills. I’ve got experience
of teaching in CIS countries and …~E, and I’ve been positively
surprised with Armenian attendants. The most important thing for me
is that they are willing to learn. It’s not parents or someone else
who urges them to go and study. You see that people are driven by
themselves, they want to study more and more.

What plans do you have for further development of MBA business school?

We would like to recruit more students. Now we are recruiting the
second group, and we hope to enroll two groups a year. What we have
to do is also to know how we are teaching the program in Russian, and
later we may develop a mixed curriculum in Russian and English. We
have to teach ourselves better as well, to know more about Armenian
practice.

What are the qualities that the students obtain when they’ve finished
the studies?

First of all, we try to change their personality. When I say that,
everybody laughs at me. But the reason I’m saying that is every
student that attends the courses is a specialist in a particular area
of business. Throughout the courses, they have input from different
industries and parts of the world, and they can take things, which
are good for them, and apply them in their own environment. They
also have to learn to make presentations. Some of the attendants,
particularly those with engineering education, feel uncomfortable
about that, because they had never done it before. And when they do
that, it helps them to improve their communicative skills. Hopefully,
they also understand they have to become better listeners, to be able
to listen to their customers.

How is a graduate going to use his knowledge in Armenia, when the
demand for marketing skills in the country has much to grow?

Our task is to provide them with maximum concepts and practices.

Certain of them may not work in Armenian environment, but every
student has to take into consider which concept might be employed
and does they need to be adapted to the local market. This is the
student’s decision. One more advantage of Armenian market in comparison
with advanced economies is that it still has room for growth, while
saturated markets don’t. They only can go down, and the only way for
the Armenian market is to go up.

Let’s hope so… Enrolling people for MBA course, one may notice that
people consider them worth of money only for an opportunity to work
abroad or in a local branch of a foreign company. There’s an evident
lack of belief that proprietors of local companies will appreciate
an MBA certificate.

Here, in the first place, you advance in several skills. You get a
better view of accounting, finance, marketing, and management. When
you have succeeded all the courses, you must write a thesis that has to
be focused on Armenia. You must apply the concepts you have learned to
the local environment. Therefore I would feel very sad if the graduates
would later leave Armenia. That’s not the purpose of the courses.

What opportunities would attract you, if you had an intention to
start a business in Armenia?

Armenia has a rich cultural background, which can stimulate the
growth of tourism industry. So the government should support it by
helping people to develop the local infrastructure. Besides, you have
an advantage of cost: tourists are not going any more to Spain, even
Croatia becomes too expensive, so they are going, say, to Bulgaria,
where leisure is cheaper. It’s one of unique features of Armenia, which
is hard to find anywhere else. You have to promote your advantages,
if you want to bring people here. On the other hand, there are certain
products that you can export worldwide – one of them is clean water,
the scarcity of which is evident in a lot of other countries.

SARGIS TKHRUNI IS FOR CHURCH ERECTION

rgis-tkhruni
12:36 pm | March 22, 2010

Social

Sargis Tkhruni Youth Student Union of Social Democratic Hnchak Party
approves the government’s initiative to demolish the summer hall of
Moscow Cinema and erect a church instead. In its statement the union
finds it irrelevant to speak against a church erection when different
sects emerge and numerous moral values vanish in the country day
by day.

"It would be better if grand churches were erected in the capital
center instead of numerous elite buildings," reads the union’s
statement.

Nevertheless, the union has two observations. It demands that
the restored St. Peter and Paul Church be a classical example of
Armenian architecture and not another elite building meeting European
standards. The union also demands that the government care for all
churches since there are numerous neglected churches in the country.

NKR PRESIDENT TO AWARD A MEDAL OF GRATITUDE TO ARA BOYAJIAN

os17249.html
17:04:08 – 22/03/2010

On March 20, President of Nagorno Karabakh Bako Sahakyan signed
an executive order granting a Medal of Gratitude to Ara Boyajian,
member of the Hayastan All-Armenian Fund Board of Trustees. The
medal was bestowed on Mr.Ara Boyajian in recognition of his longtime
contribution to the economic and infrastructure development of Artsakh.

The honoree has been a founding member of the Hayastan Fund Toronto
affiliate since 1993 and a member of the Hayastan Fund Board of
Trustees since 2007. Ara and Calabrina Boyajian are also donors of
the Hayastan Fund and have contributed more than $100 000 US for
its development projects. In 1993 Mr.Ara Boyajian was recognized a
Benefactor by the Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin.